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Beerus awoke from a long slumber and lazily stretched his limbs with a yawn. The violet feline sauntered out of his bedroom, then out into the open field in front of his castle, which was embedded in a gargantuan purple tree. Whis would normally greet him or give any kind of casual banter, but instead, Whis didn't acknowledge him at all. He was staring into his staff's orb, a look of concern on his normally neutral face.
"Whis, I'm hungry. Let's get some food," he said with another yawn.
Whis eventually turned his head. "We can, but… Lord Beerus, there are some important matters." His voice was less melodic than Beerus was used to.
"Like what?" Beerus picked at one of his ears, then flicked away a tiny ball of wax. "I think me not destroying everything in sight due to being fed well is more important."
"Our universe has a new Supreme Kai."
Beerus's eyes widened. "Huh? Since when?"
"Since a few weeks ago."
There was a long, uncomfortable moment of silence between them. Beerus was more uncomfortable that Whis didn't just explain... but he had to know. "What happened to the last one?"
"He died."
Beerus spat in shock. "What?! Impossible!"
"Well..." Whis finally turned the rest of his body towards Beerus. "Certainly not a traditional death... more like, he was absorbed by another being. If he didn't transfer his title to his only living apprentice, your nap may have been eternal, Lord Beerus."
"Wh-- Back up!" he exclaimed. "What the hell happened?!"
Whis's lips curled down as he stared back at the orb on his staff. "A powerful wizard, Bibidi, and his subordinate, Majin Buu, made its way to the Land of the Kais. Majin Buu killed almost everyone and absorbed their energy, except the apprentice that assisted with the east side of the universe. Majin Buu changed form after absorbing the previous Supreme Kai and, luckily, spared the new Supreme Kai’s life." Whis allowed the moment to sink in, then let out a soft sigh. "Our new Supreme Kai was able to kill Bibidi after Majin Buu was sealed away on a still developing planet in the north."
Beerus stared in shock. He knew exactly what Whis could have said, but decided not to say. Beerus had to deal with the horrible panging in his heart by himself. Another moment of silence followed.
"What would you like to do, Lord Beerus? We have yet to introduce ourselves properly. Perhaps... we could have a feast together?"
"Not hungry anymore. Let's just go to the Land of the Kais," Beerus mumbled, placing his hand on Whis's back.
"As you wish."
They took flight and traveled faster than light towards their next destination. Beerus thought Whis would punish him with silence, but then he heard Whis's voice cut through the wind: "It's a shame," he muttered.
"Huh?"
"The previous Supreme Kai was truly one of the best we've had. He was so valued for his knowledge and teachings that he had four studying under him." Whis sighed.
"... Which one was the east one?" Beerus asked.
"Lord Shin. I'm sure you'll recall him when you see him."
Beerus scratched his chin in thought. "The tall, bulky apprentice was the strongest one, right? Helped take down Moro?"
Whis simply chuckled. "Yes," he answered.
Beerus narrowed his eyes. "Why are you laughing? It's not him? Well, it can't be the woman, because you wouldn't say 'he'..." He growled. "It's not that old guy that fishes, is it?!"
"We're here." Whis elegantly landed in the grass and surveyed the land around them. The planet looked completely untouched, but Beerus noticed the air was different since his last visit. He was used to faraway chatter whenever he'd visit each millennium, followed by a boisterous greeting from the Supreme Kai. It always annoyed him... but he preferred it to the silence.
Whis walked out of sight. "Yoohoo! I apologize, I should have called!"
Beerus heard Whis chatting in the distance and eventually followed behind. He was standing with someone at the base of a gigantic, blossoming tree... Oh, no.
"Him?" Beerus blurted out, pointing as if to confirm.
Whis turned around with a pleasant smile, stepping aside to give more space to the Supreme Kai. He was small, purple skin, large mohawk, and his narrow eyes were downcast, flicking up if only to give Beerus a half-hearted yet polite expression as he bowed. "Lord Beerus, I'm sure you remember Lord Shin from previous meetings,” Whis said.
"Hello," Shin softly answered.
Beerus really would have preferred anyone else, including the old geezer. Of course Whis laughed before! This was the apprentice that was met so frequently by Beerus's rampant sneering-- he didn't understand why the previous Supreme Kai was so fond of this pipsqueak or why he was in training at all. The others were stronger, quicker on their feet, had far more presence, louder voices, and yet... Beerus groaned aloud.
"Is... something troubling you?" Shin asked.
Beerus scowled and stared more at Whis than at Shin. Whis gave a polite smile and spoke in turn: "We wanted to officially introduce ourselves, though we have met before. Of course, this is the Destroyer, Lord Beerus, and I am the Angel attendant. Please just call me Whis! Though I would have loved to see you become a Supreme Kai under more pleasant circumstances, it is an honor to be acquainted." Whis returned Shin's polite bow from before.
Shin smiled a little, but it faded after just a few seconds. "Ah... I suppose we will be working more directly with one another." Shin looked to Beerus, who intensely stared back.
"Please do not hesitate to call if you need anything, Lord Shin. I understand it must be overwhelming to so suddenly be at such a position," Whis said before the silence was too long.
"Thank you." Shin's smile to Whis was earnest. "Do you both know what happened?"
"The gist," Whis hummed.
"Then you know that Majin Buu lies dormant. I didn't want to destroy it while in its seal... I wasn't sure I could have done so without reawakening it, and the planet it's on is still developing. I do not want to impede on their progress."
"What planet?" Beerus glanced to Whis.
"Hmmm." Whis looked into the orb on his staff. "What a pretty little planet with such a striking moon. It's Planet 4032-877. Seems that the dominant species there is beginning to form groups."
"I do not think Majin Buu can reawaken, since Bibidi is dead," Shin said with a sigh. "But... I wanted you to know."
What went unspoken was driving Beerus crazy. There wasn't a hint of anger on Shin's face. He was all business, incredibly polite. There was only the disappointed look he gave when their eyes first met, but Beerus deserved much more and he was getting none of it. Beerus clenched his teeth and crossed his arms.
"Well, it's no longer your business to mess with that thing anyway," Beerus blurted out. "It's my job to destroy if I believe it should be. Got it?"
"I, uh..." Shin's shoulders fell. "I know."
Beerus stared at him for a second, then growled to himself, tapping his feet. "Whis! You said we would have a feast."
Whis chuckled. "Oh? I thought you weren't hungry, my Lord."
"All this talking made me starve! I'll go look for some meat." He took a step away, but Whis held out his staff to Beerus's chest.
"No need," Whis responded with a grin. "I am happy to take care of everything." Whis glanced back to Shin. "Lord Shin, do you mind if we all eat together here? We would like to bring some light to your promotion."
"Not at all, but you don’t have to do anything like that for me," Shin sheepishly replied, waving his hands in dismissal.
"Nonsense! As the guardians of this universe, you must hold yourselves to the highest regard and celebrate just the same. I will be back shortly. Don't have too much fun without me!" In an instant, Whis disappeared, leaving the two by themselves.
Shin let out another soft sigh as he watched the horizon Whis disappeared to. After a short moment, he looked over to Beerus. Beerus hesitantly looked back.
"... Would you like some tea?" Shin asked.
Beerus scratched behind one of his ears and stared to the horizon as well. "Sure, whatever."
The two of them walked over to a quaint wooden table under the giant tree, Shin setting a teapot on top of it before walking off. Beerus sat down at the table and tapped his claws against the wood. When he was sure he was by himself, he groaned and let his forehead slap against the table.
Shin returned a moment later with a small bowl in hand. Beerus sniffed the air as he caught the whiff of some aromatic herbs and spices. Shin sat at the table at the other end, setting up their cups as he began steeping the tea. Beerus watched him, hand propping up his face.
"... Shin, right?" Beerus asked.
"Yes?" Shin looked back.
Beerus fought a few different expressions on his face, then settled on a grimace. "Have you reported your promotion to the Grand Priest?"
Shin's face contorted in concern. "Who?"
He let out a far too relieved sigh. "Good," he grumbled.
Shin thought for a moment... then his eyes widened. "Oh. I think they’re… the one who ranks above the Angels?" Shin frowned. "I haven't even thought of leaving Universe 7... I suppose I should to say all that's happened."
"D-don't!" Beerus snapped, sitting up straight. "I, uh--" He coughed. "The three of us must go together."
"Mm." Shin checked on the tea. "Maybe I will not be the Supreme Kai for long. My predecessor's decision was rushed. The Grand Priest may send someone else to take the role instead."
About a thousand horrible outcomes flashed through Beerus's head when Shin said that. He shook his head, sweat forming at his brow. "We do not want that to happen," he said, his voice lacking its usual confidence.
Shin either didn't notice Beerus's tone or he didn't acknowledge it. He stared at the teapot, but his mind was elsewhere. "I should have died instead of my master." He deeply frowned. "I replayed the moment in my head thousands of times. I... I don't..." He went quiet for a while.
Beerus didn't know what to say. Well, he knew he wanted to say he agreed, but that would've just kicked the guy while he was down. Beerus crossed his arms.
Shin shook his head, then smiled to Beerus. "All that matters is that he decided that promoting me was the best chance for the universe to survive. I will do my best to honor his choice, so that his death will not be in vain." Shin glanced back to the teapot. "Here we go," he said in a lighter tone, then poured hot tea into two different cups, offering one to Beerus.
"He always liked you the most for some reason," grumbled Beerus.
Shin's eyes widened. "Huh? I doubt that is true. He valued all of us equally."
"Nah, he wouldn't shut up about you." Beerus sipped his tea. Huh, not bad at all. He did his best to hide his approval by just drinking more of the tea. "Don't get me wrong, he talked about all of you. But even if none of this happened, he was probably gonna give you the role later anyway."
"Wh... what did he say?" Shin asked, voice heightened. "That is hard for me to believe!"
"I mean, listen. Same here." He nonchalantly held out his empty cup, which Shin refilled without a second thought. "I always thought the beefy guy was gonna be the next Supreme Kai. But the old Supreme Kai would get onto me for--" Beerus huffed, stopping himself to sip his tea. "Well. He said you had what it takes to become the Supreme Kai, you just needed some time. Something about compassion, I guess." Beerus knew the old Supreme Kai reprimanded him because he would have to get along with Shin sooner or later… He just didn’t think it’d happen so soon.
"Wow..." Shin grinned. "Really? He said that?"
"Yup." Beerus downed his second cup just as fast.
"That so?" He smiled more, then frowned. "I wish he could have kept teaching me. Well... It is part of the job to adapt for the universe’s sake..." He sipped his tea and watched Beerus. "It must be strange for you that we must work together, since you never liked me."
Beerus nearly choked on his drink, then he slammed his cup down. "I wasn't going to say it!" he coughed. "But since you brought it up, yes, I can't believe my life is connected to a pipsqueak like you!" He aggressively pointed to him and nearly got out of his seat. "Compassion my ass!! Your main compassion should be to stay on this planet so I don't die!"
Shin stared at him for a moment, and the reality finally reached Beerus.
"Oh. Right. Well!" Beerus raised his voice again. "That won't happen again. Just..." He flailed one of his hands in dismissal. "Don't be a moron and it'll be fine." He finished up his tea and held his hand out for more.
"I... have a question for you, Beerus," Shin said as he poured a third cup of tea.
"Mmh."
"Were you... not aware of what was happening here? Not even Whis could tell you?" Shin asked.
Here it was. Beerus held his cup for a while, and for once, didn't drink at all. He stared at the green water reflecting his own face back at him. "I, uh..." He took a deep breath. "Of course I knew!" he snapped. "I was busy and I trusted that you would all hold your own! Here is your first lesson: Never doubt your Destroyer!" he yelled.
"But--"
"The Supreme Kai has the time rings. I'm sure he saw into the future and knew his demise was the only route. We do not interfere with each other's business, merely compliment it."
Shin frowned. There was certainly a pang of doubt in his heart, but Beerus was right: he shouldn't doubt him and trust him as his partnered Destroyer. He wouldn't let his celestial equal die, because it would mean his own death. Beerus was far more experienced. Maybe other Supreme Kais had similar fates, though he hadn't learned of any. Sacrifice was sometimes necessary, and that's what his predecessor did. Maybe, one day, Shin would have to make a similar decision. Though he was the universe's God of Creation, his highest duty was to serve the universe itself, to give. His life was just one part, and it could be given to another. His predecessor understood... so he should, too.
Beerus's ears fell in their silence. "Ah... Rrrgh... Look--"
Shin shook his head. "You're right. I’m sorry for doubting you."
"You're... Sorry?" Beerus stared, wide-eyed.
"I am. I should trust you. You are not only my partner, but you have experience that preceded even my master-- well... the former Supreme Kai." Shin smiled again. "I look forward to our partnership, whether it may be brief or eternal. I won't let you down!"
Beerus averted his eyes and furrowed his brows, crossing his arms again. "Th... This is why I can't stand you!" He yelled up an octave. "Have a backbone! Get angry!"
"Is there a reason I should be angry?" Shin asked, tilting his head.
"... No!" Beerus stammered. "Fine." He steeled his posture and downed the third cup of tea. "You're just... Uh. Too accepting of being told I dislike you."
Shin laughed, catching him off guard. "I appreciate your honesty. Plus, I'm confident that we will one day be friends!"
"Ugh! That right there! That needless positivity!" Beerus snapped. Shin laughed again.
"Are you a more negative person? Maybe the universe is already doing its work by having us balance each other out. I think your honesty also shows that you care in your own way."
"You're giving me too much credit, but think whatever you want," Beerus grumbled.
"I will." He glanced to see Beerus's cup was empty again. "I'm happy that you seem to like my tea."
"Huh?" Beerus huffed, not even needing to gesture for Shin to refill it. "It's okay."
"Haha, thank you. I grew all the plants myself. This is the first time I've had some tea since, uh... You know. But it's kind of nice to do this, like a sense of normalcy has returned." Shin poured himself another cup, too. "Though I am sure you have a lot to do, you are welcome to visit anytime."
Beerus gave a grunt that acknowledged Shin, then the two quietly enjoyed their tea. They had the first comfortable moment. Shin hoped it would be the first of many, while Beerus wondered if he was truly off the hook. His conscience nagged at him, but what could he do? None of his actions could reverse the fact that he was just napping. And Shin was the one to apologize? What a pain.
He gritted his teeth as he battled his thoughts, then finally spoke, though hardly above a whisper: "... Sorry."
Shin lifted his head, curiously matching Beerus's gaze. "Huh? About what?"
"I mean, even though, uh, I knew what I was doing..." Beerus cleared his throat. "... What happened was terrible. Sorry."
Shin returned a warm smile. "Thank you, but there is no need to apologize--"
"Your second lesson is to take an apology when you get one!" Beerus yelled.
Shin chuckled. "Okay. I accept your apology, Beerus."
"Finally." Beerus relaxed his shoulders, and for the first time, he leaned completely back in his seat. Shin smiled more, noticing the air had already changed into something more positive.
They let the breeze speak between them. Eventually, Shin poured another cup, only to find that nothing was coming out.
"Oops," Shin muttered, checking the pot. "I should've saved some for Whis. I'll make more tea... Huh... he's been gone for a while, though, hasn't he?"
"My, here at last!" shouted Whis as he appeared in front of them both. Startled, Beerus tipped back and had to clamor for the table to stay upright. Shin's face brightened.
"Oh! I had just mentioned you!" he beamed.
Whis gave his proud laugh. "Apologies for the wait, my Lords. I scoured the universe for only the best! Imagine the fruits of your labor in the millenniums to come, hoho!" Whis waved his staff to summon a bountiful feast on the table. Beerus narrowed his eyes to the Angel, while Shin gasped at all the food.
"Wow! This all looks amazing... Thank you very much!" Shin cheerfully replied.
"Oh, think nothing of it, my Lord. Ooh! Did you make tea? May I have some? Always my favorite part of visiting the Land of the Kais!"
Shin chuckled and nodded. "Of course. I'll be right back."
When Shin walked away, Whis gave a knowing smile to Beerus. He scowled in reply.
"This is all from my world, isn't it?" Beerus sneered.
"My, why would you claim something so bold, Lord Beerus?" Whis's smile widened. "It is true, though I was sure to pick the very best we had from the universe."
"Then why'd you take so long?" Beerus growled.
"I could ask you the same thing, Lord Beerus."
"Wh-- about what?!"
Whis stared into his staff and clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "It took you forty-seven minutes to even acknowledge the catastrophe. Though, I suppose that is progress enough for you."
"You were timing me?! For wh-- for acknowledging what?!"
"Oh, that smells lovely, Lord Shin!" beamed Whis as he saw Shin return with more tea. "I am so excited to finally have a nice meal with such lovely people!" Whis was the first to seat himself, followed by Shin and finally Beerus.
As soon as Beerus's hind touched the seat, he stuffed his face with food. Shin noticed the angry look on his face, but assumed he was just very... passionate about his feasting.
"Haha, it's been a while since I've seen this table so full. Thank you Whis."
"Oh, it is no problem at all. Let's not let Lord Beerus take all the food, hm?" Whis chuckled and started making his plate, Shin doing the same.
The three of them indulged in a grand feast, or, well, Whis and Beerus indulged in a grand feast. Shin finished his food, then watched in amazement as the other two cleaned plate after plate.
"You two have quite the appetite," Shin mused. His smile faded for just a moment. The previous Supreme Kai had just as voracious of an appetite, and instead a trait he found endearing went to the slumbering monster.
"Hooh! I'm stuffed!" Whis said with a heavy sigh. "That was delicious." Whis’s declaration brought Shin back into the current moment and lightened the mood once more.
"Would've preferred something more fresh," Beerus grunted, only to get whacked by Whis's staff as he turned to Shin.
"Did you enjoy your meal?"
"I did, though admittedly, I had more fun watching you two."
"Hoho, said like a true Supreme Kai. I am glad we could do this... it may very well be our only meal together."
"What?" Beerus and Shin asked at the same time.
"Why's that?!" huffed Beerus.
"Though Lord Shin has gone through incredible lengths to repair this planet and prevent such an awful event to happen again, we must report to the Grand Priest in person about what transpired here. We will await his judgment, but such a universe-ending entity treading holy ground and nearly ending everyone in the process is serious, to say the least."
Shin frowned as the reality dawned on him. "Oh..." He sighed. "Yes, that is the right thing to do. I am glad we could have this meal, too."
"Wh-what?!" Beerus gasped. "It's all... Hrrgh..." His shoulders slumped. He knew no protest would allow them to escape their fate.
"Is this your first time going to the Great Zeno’s Palace, Lord Shin?" Whis politely asked.
He nodded. "I understand how to get there, but I have yet to formally introduce myself to the Grand Priest."
"Wonderful. Let us go, for we have delayed the report long enough."
"Alright..." Shin took a deep breath. "Um... Whis? Do you have any advice?"
Whis smiled. "Just be honest and polite."
"I... I can do that, I think," Shin muttered to himself. "Okay."
"Could you please take us there, Lord Shin?"
"Ah! Of course." Shin readied himself, Whis taking one of his shoulders and gesturing Beerus to do the same. Beerus groaned in frustration and grabbed Shin's other shoulder. Shin closed his eyes, took another deep breath as he lifted one of his hands, two fingers pointed upwards. "Kai kai!"
In an instant, the three of them were teleported to an entirely new realm. There was a beautiful, timeless palace in front of them while surrounded by what felt like endless stars in endless galaxies. Surrounding them were twelve stone pillars with what appeared to be each universe on top. Shin was captured by its beauty... and intimidated by it. He got more nervous as he noticed Beerus's stiff walk while approaching the outer walls. Right before the entrance was a small blue man with a similar appearance to Whis. He thoughtfully smiled at them, expecting their arrival.
"We apologize for the sudden appearance, Grand Priest," Whis started with short bow. Beerus gave a deeper bow, Shin hurriedly following suit.
"It is always a pleasure to see you, Whis, and you as well, Destroyer. And who might you be?"
"A-ah! Yes! That is, uh, what we are here to report, Grand Priest. I am the new Supreme Kai of Universe 7, for my predecessor passed on prematurely... He passed the title to me moments before--" Shin took another deep breath. "Before he died."
The Grand Priest watched closely, keeping his neutral expression. "I see... Please, tell me. How did he die?"
Whis explained the whole situation to the Grand Priest, while Shin filled in other details if they were asked. The Grand Priest nodded along and noticed how remarkably quiet the normally chatty Destroyer was.
"Mm... Quite a lot has happened, I see," the Grand Priest said. "Why did the Destroyer not address this problem?" His eyes coldly panned to Beerus, which made him sweat and deepen his bow. "This was not only a universal matter, but it happened on holy land. Your death may as well have been inevitable. Why has the Supreme Kai taken care of this beast but not you, Beerus?"
"A-ah, I am--"
"I-if I may intervene!" Shin stammered as he stepped in. "Though I do not know exactly the matters of my predecessor, in his infinite wisdom to sustain the health of the universe, he likely knew that his death was the best chance to save everyone!"
Beerus nervously glared to Shin, but Shin wasn't paying attention to him at all.
"What my predecessor did was reckless-- of course, he should have deferred judgment to the Destroyer, but in doing so, he paid with his life and also saved both mine and the Destroyer's. Please allow me to bear the responsibility of my predecessor's actions." Shin deepened his bow as well. "It was my choice as Supreme Kai, which is not at the fault of the Destroyer."
Beerus gaped in shock, while Whis and the Grand Priest watched Shin with interest.
The Grand Priest turned fully towards Shin. "You are aware that your declaration here could very well erase you from existence, correct?"
"Yes." Shin held firm. "However, I request that a new Supreme Kai is chosen, so that Beerus will not also be erased. P-please."
There was a long, tense moment of silence. The Grand Priest let out a small chuckle. "That is very noble of you, Supreme Kai. You have given me more to think about..." After a few more seconds, the Grand Priest smiled. "A Supreme Kai like you is rare."
"You think so too?" hummed Whis.
The Grand Priest gave a sage nod, keeping his focus to Shin. "Not only by how you acquired the role, but also how willing you are to protect the Destroyer, even if he lives while you die. You aren't concerned with your own life at all."
"I-If I may be truthful, Grand Priest, I am terrified..." Shin took a deep breath through his nose. "I... want to live, especially to honor my predecessor who had so much faith in me. But I do not want my partner to suffer due to my mistakes. It is the Supreme Kai's duty to nurture others, and I will give my own if it means another can live."
"I see." The Grand Priest smiled more. "You are very new to this duty, so I will be the first to inform you. Though your burdens are crushing, they are not yours to bear alone. You and the Destroyer are one and the same in life, so your accomplishments, as well as your failures, are also the same."
"Ah... Y-yes, I understand now. I apologize for interrupting, Grand Priest."
"It is alright. I am curious to hear from the other half, however," the Grand Priest said, looking back to Beerus. "What was your plan to deal with the creature that killed the previous Supreme Kai and three of his apprentices?"
"I..." Beerus was quiet for a little too long. "Grand Priest, the Supreme Kai speaks too highly of my involvement with his predecessor. I was resting and unaware when Majin Buu went to the Land of the Kais, so the Supreme Kai acted completely on his own. My inaction forced him to take those risks, ending his life in the process. For this... I, uh... express my deepest regrets."
It was Shin's turn to stare, shocked. He nearly spoke, but stopped if only because the Grand Priest was there.
"Though I am aware our punishments are matched, please, if you must treat us unequally, it should be me that takes the worse end. My life should have ended, but he ensured my survival by trusting the current Supreme Kai."
"Mm. I believe I have the entire story now," the Grand Priest hummed in thought. "Can you confirm, Whis?"
"Yes, Grand Priest. That is everything," Whis said with a polite nod.
"Very well." He closed his eyes for a brief moment, then reopened them. "I have judged your situation accordingly."
"Yes, Grand Priest," the two gods shakily replied.
They tightened their eyes shut, both expecting their lives to be completely erased. The Grand Priest folded his hands behind his back. "Please stand up."
Beerus and Shin stood up straight and looked to the Grand Priest, though neither hid the terror from their faces.
The Grand Priest turned to Beerus first. "Your inaction could have very well ended Universe 7 for such an entity to tread on the Land of the Kais..." He turned to Shin. "But your predecessor's actions, followed by your own, returned peace. There is no need for me to make any changes to Universe 7, its gods or otherwise. All is balanced as it should be."
Both of them let out long, quiet sighs.
"However, if earlier action was made, there would have been no need for the Supreme Kai to interfere on his own planet in the first place..."
They tensed again.
"... I am also taking into account that you, Shin, are a new Supreme Kai and your training cannot be completed officially. There is no one else able to guide you except yourself. I consider that punishment enough."
"Y-yes, Grand Priest," muttered Shin.
"So I believe what remains is an equal punishment for the Destroyer... Ah, I know." The Grand Priest's eyes briefly flashed. "My judgment has been cast. If that is all, you may leave."
Shin and Beerus stared at each other, then back to the Grand Priest, as if to confirm the situation was actually over. The Grand Priest was kind enough to let them absorb the moment.
"Wh--" Beerus looked at himself, then looked around. "I-if I may ask, Grand Priest, what is my punishment?"
"I am sure you will see." The Grand Priest smiled. "Oh, and congratulations on your promotion, Supreme Kai."
"Th-thank you, Grand Priest!" Shin bowed again.
The Grand Priest dismissed them, then turned around and floated deeper into the palace entrance. It... really was over. They were both alive and their universe was untouched. Shin took a brief moment to mull over what the Grand Priest considered as his punishment... his job was going to be a struggle the whole way through, to say the least. He glanced back to Beerus, but he didn't know how to feel anymore. Beerus lied, and not only did he lie-- he was asleep while everyone around Shin was murdered or absorbed by Majin Buu. Eventually, the Grand Priest was gone, leaving the three alone once more.
"Wh-Whis... What did he do?!" Beerus quietly asked with a whine, grappling at Whis's robe.
"Is that why you told me to be angry?" Shin asked before Whis could answer. "Because you lied?"
Beerus choked on his own spit. "H-hey, let's, uh, let's talk about this somewhere else--"
"I can't believe you lied to me!" shouted Shin, pointing back at Beerus.
Whis knew this confrontation was inevitable, though he hoped it wouldn’t have happened so close to Zeno’s Palace. "Lord Shin, could you please take us to where Lord Beerus and I reside? Let's continue our discussion there."
"There's nothing to discuss," huffed Beerus. "It's all been settled. We're perfectly balanced like what the Grand Priest said." He leaned down to Shin and spoke through clenched teeth: "And we don't want to change his mind."
Shin matched his glare, and the two stared at each other intensely for an entire minute.
"Goodness me," Whis said with a whimsical sigh. "Lord Shin, if you could, please..." Whis put his hands on both Shin and Beerus's shoulders, and in an instant, the three disappeared.
Beerus's realm looked normal. There was the huge lake, the grass everywhere, trees in the distance... Beerus relaxed at the familiar sight, then shrugged as he watched the lake.
"Maybe he felt me having to deal with an inexperienced Supreme Kai was also punishment enough," he mumbled.
Shin glared at Beerus. "Do you think so little of me?"
"Just go back home, Shin." Beerus growled and waved him off. "Lesson learned, alright? I'll make sure nothing sneaks to your planet. Let me do my job. See you in a thousand years."
"You haven't been doing your job!" Shin yelled. "I... I think it will take longer for us to be friends. I trusted you wholly, and for you to so brazenly lie about something so important! I felt stupid for doubting you at all!" Well, that was the anger Beerus was looking for, at least.
"Fine! I did lie! I had no clue what this Majin Buu was until earlier today!" Beerus screamed back in admission, throwing his arms up. "Are you happy now, you runt?!"
"I bet you weren't even sorry!" Shin's voice cracked as he yelled back. He attempted to suppress the overwhelming emotion on his face, but he wasn't doing a stellar job. "We didn't have a chance! Not even the South apprentice could hold his own for long. They were slaughtered like they were nothing, and the previous Supreme Kai wasn't even sure being absorbed would spare me! He fought his best so I could escape, and it was only because he got absorbed that I lived at all!" Shin realized he was breathing too quickly and tried his best to calm down. He tightly clenched his fists, then took another deep breath. "You were the only one who could have killed Majin Buu."
Beerus growled into a scream. "I am sorry!" he yelled. "Do you think it's pleasant to wake up and find out you almost died?! Of course I wished I was there!"
"Because it's about your life, right?" Shin asked with a scowl.
"No!"
"Then what?!" Shin yelled again.
"Hrrrgh... Shut up!" Beerus hissed back. He didn't know why he had so much difficulty in just saying all of his feelings. It was embarrassing. The old Supreme Kai was his friend too, even though they were so different. He didn't always get along with the Supreme Kais-- sometimes he even hated ones he had to work with-- but he was worn down by the last Supreme Kai over time. They had a similar passion for good food and shared lazy afternoons in their downtime. Beerus was used to friends coming and going; it was just a part of the job. But it was always a little hard to let go of a fellow god if he liked them. Now he had to start all over again and they weren’t off to a great start. Shin didn't reply afterwards, though not at Beerus's demand. They stared at each other, tension still at an all time high, but at least neither of their faces were red from frustration.
Shin eventually let out a sigh, the anger gone from his face. He relaxed his hands. "... If you truly mean your apology, then I forgive you, Beerus.”
Would Beerus so easily forgiven if their roles were reversed? Probably not. He crossed his arms, looking away but with one of his ears turned towards Shin.
“I want to work with you properly, and... what happened we can't change. I... accept this. And... it's wrong to blame you for what Bibidi and Majin Buu did. You are not the one with evil in your heart." Shin held his hands behind his back, his expression serious. "But know that I will not hesitate to give my life to protect this universe should another catastrophe arise... And I do not have an apprentice to trade roles with."
Beerus tensed a little as he stared at Shin.
"Our lives are one and the same, right? You will do well to keep this in mind."
Beerus was taken aback. "Are you threatening me?" he sneered.
"No. I am never going to put myself in danger unless I need to. I can wholeheartedly say I will do what I can, even if it may not be the most ideal... but... at least I am trying." Shin grimaced. "Have a nice nap, Beerus. I'll honor your request to leave." His look softened to Whis, who had been respectfully listening the entire time. "Farewell, Whis."
"It was delightful spending the day with you, Lord Shin!" beamed Whis, waving him off before he disappeared. Beerus and Whis were left with one another once more.
"Bolder than I thought," grumbled Beerus.
"I must say I'm impressed," Whis replied. "You let him yell at you and you didn't confine him to any magical object!"
“It’s… rrrgh… It’s because I did mess up.”
Whis watched in amazement; he didn’t expect Beerus to actually be honest.
“But it doesn’t mean I’m going to let him prattle off like that again!” Beerus raised his voice. “The old Supreme Kai sure knew how to pick them,” he said, rolling his eyes. His ears dropped as soon as the words escaped his mouth. Beerus was the more powerful of the two, especially since he now worked with a Supreme Kai without complete training, but…
They were still equals. Shin held enough respect for Beerus to defend him in front of even the Grand Priest. It was kind of reckless, honestly, but it was a debt that needed to be repaid somehow. Really, a lot of debt was racking up. Why was this guy so ready to forgive? It would be easier if he just stayed mad, and they fought like children, and then got over it at the same time. Now Beerus was left to ruminate on his own and that was far worse. Though, he doubted Shin saw it as any sort of debt… so, maybe he could forget about it? Beerus huffed to himself and tapped one of his feet.
“What are you thinking about, Lord Beerus?” Whis asked with a calm smile.
“Is a Supreme Kai like that really rare?” Beerus asked back.
“Ah, well… Lord Shin himself is unremarkable in skill, but I think even Kais struggle having such a pure heart. Though a bit naive, he certainly commits to his role. The way he defended you in front of the Grand Priest made me think he believes you to be a good Destroyer. Well, maybe a little less now,” Whis chuckled. “It is also incredibly rare for there to be a Supreme Kai in any universe without complete training. He must have impressed the Grand Priest.”
Beerus growled a little, but didn’t respond for a while longer. “I guess it beats working with those other snobs.”
“Hohoh. I am certainly interested to see what your next meeting will bring.”
“Hmph. I’m done talking and thinking about this. I'm going inside, Whis. Have some food ready for me when I wake up—" Beerus stopped and looked around. There was a massive field of grass before them. "I thought we went back to the castle," he grunted. Beerus wondered how there was an entire argument and conversation afterwards and he hadn’t noticed where his castle was.
Whis chuckled. "We did, my Lord."
"What?" Beerus whirled around to double check, then took off in flight. Whis heard a scream from far away, getting louder and louder as Beerus went back into Whis's sight. "Where's my castle?!?"
"I believe the Grand Priest erased it as your punishment," Whis chuckled again. "Oh! Wait." He floated over to the center of the field and picked up what looked like a wrinkly purple seed. "Perhaps the tree just needs to be regrown?"
"He got rid of my home?!" Beerus screamed, tugging his ears. "I spent millions of years making it just right!! This is a far worse punishment than the Supreme Kai learning to count by himself!!"
Whis held back a snort. "It does seem fitting for you. The Grand Priest has never misjudged."
"I don't want your commentary!" Beerus snapped. He sooner flopped into the grass and hoped it would swallow him whole. He tiredly groaned, his tail flicking once, then going completely limp as he lay there. Whis walked over to him and dropped the seed on his head.
Beerus fished around for the seed, then took a long look at it from his palm. "Ugh... it's going to take forever to grow."
"No mortal could make this sprout quickly, at least not without immense magic... perhaps we must seek a god instead?"
Beerus paused, then growled into another angry scream. "No!" he yelled. "Tell me there is some kind of nature guardian stashed somewhere in the universe."
Whis laughed. "None that I know of, and even if I did, I don’t believe they would be able to grow it. There is a specific barrier around this seed."
"Grrrh... No way!!" Beerus checked the seed again just to make sure... of course Whis was right. "I am not asking the Supreme Kai after all that!"
"Hoho, it did sound like he is less inclined to help at the moment. Improving your relationship would certainly improve the odds. Though, he might be even less inclined if he learns you are speaking to him simply because you want your castle back…"
"Are you enjoying yourself, Whis?!" growled Beerus.
"Hohohoh! I am!" he beamed.
—
Shin was back on the Land of the Kais. Silence had once again filled the planet, and even though he was frustrated with his new partner, he would have taken any company at this point. It would take him a long time to get used to the deafening solitude...
Shin sighed to himself. "No, I can't get caught up in those thoughts," he muttered. He walked over to the grand tree that towered over the table he ate at earlier in the day, but it already felt like ages passed. Shin sat at the other end of the tree, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes.
He breathed in. He didn't know what to listen for, so he just... listened. The breeze tousled his hair. The tree's leaves danced above him. Fish occasionally splashed around the brooks several feet ahead of him.
... Shin breathed out. For a moment, he could forget and just be.
"HEY!"
A faraway and unfortunately familiar voice pierced through Shin’s meditation and rang in his ears. His eyes shot open.
He quirked an eyebrow as he peeked around the tree. "... Beerus?"
Maybe a few more moments of solitude would have been preferred. A part of him was exhausted and just wanted some time to digest the day, while another part of him wondered why Beerus would be around again so soon. Was there an emergency? Panic took hold, causing Shin to spring up and meet Beerus and Whis by the table in front of the tree.
“Did something happen?” Shin asked with concern. He gauged what Beerus’s intense expression could mean, while Whis was remarkably neutral. He had no idea how serious it was.
“Greetings, Lord Shin,” Whis said with his usual cheerful tone. “Oh! I forgot to clean up earlier.” With a swift motion of Whis’s staff, the table was spotless; only Shin’s tea set remained in the center.
“I-is… that why you came by?” Shin quietly asked.
Beerus lowly growled through their conversation, and finally he went up to a frustrated snarl. “Alright, Supreme Kai! You value honesty? Here it is!” He pointed aggressively to Shin. “I need you to do something for me. That’s why I’m here. I’m not interested in pretending to be your best pal or to grovel to get what I want. You do it or you don’t. That simple.”
Shin lifted his eyebrows as he listened. “Uh…”
“Well?!”
“I… I guess I can respect that you are clear here,” Shin muttered. “What is it that you want me to do?”
Beerus breathed deeply through his nose and tossed the purple seed into Shin’s hands. He watched it curiously, then examined it in the light. Beerus crossed his arms and swished his tail. “I need you to grow that on my planet.”
“Why?”
Beerus clenched his teeth. “Because I need it.” He turned his nose up in the air and huffed again. “Destroyer business.”
Shin stared at him for a moment, crossing his arms in return while curling the seed into his palm. “I’m not sure I am going to buy everything as ‘Destroyer business’ anymore… Whis, can you tell me what the seed is for?”
“He can’t!” Beerus yelled.
“It’s his house,” Whis chuckled.
“Oh!” Shin’s eyes widened. “I guess, in a way, that is Destroyer business…”
“Yes, so grow it back,” Beerus huffed.
Shin unfurled his arms to examine the seed again. “… Was this your punishment by the Grand Priest?”
Whis started laughing to the point of tears, while Beerus looked like he was about to explode. Shin got his answer. Whis had to make a genuine effort to stop, heaving out one final laugh before wiping his eyes. “I believe that is part of it, Lord Shin,” he snickered out.
“Hm.” Shin’s expression went from concern to befuddlement. “All you lost was a house?”
“Alright. One— it’s a castle.” Beerus held up one of his fingers, then threw up another one. “Two— The punishment is that I have to ask you at all!!!” he screamed, taking a step closer to Shin.
Shin bunched his shoulders and took the next step forward. “The purpose of a punishment is to learn the errors of your ways, and if I may be so bold, I don’t think you’ve learned a thing! You haven’t asked me anything… All you’ve been doing is commanding me around!”
“I’ve been around far longer than you, so I’m telling you what your best options are!” he growled, poking Shin’s chest.
“Best options for you!” Shin snapped back. “I think the Grand Priest may have taken your precious castle so you’re less inclined to sleep through the universe ending!”
“Hrrrrgh…! Whis, I’ve had enough of him already! I think I will seal him in something after all!”
Whis separated them with his staff. “Now, we will have none of that,” he politely replied. “If you are done airing your grievances, now is time to communicate like proper gods.”
Shin watched Whis, then let out a sigh. “You’re right…”
Beerus growled a little, one of his veins nearly popping out of his head. “What do you want for you to grow my tree back?”
“I just want you to ask me as your equal,” Shin replied. “I feel like I deserve that courtesy, at least.”
Beerus briefly clenched his teeth, but just as soon let it go. “Fine…” He sighed. “Shin. Will…” He was quiet for a long time. “Ugh… You’ll grow the tree on my planet, right?”
Not perfect, but it was good from Beerus. Shin politely smiled and gave a single nod. “Yes, I’ll try.”
Whis clapped cheerfully. “Excellent! Matter resolved.”
“Um…” Shin scratched the back of his head. “Could you give me a moment, though? I think I should recharge some energy first.”
“Go ahead,” Beerus mumbled. He wandered off, settling on a large stone at the nearby river. Shin sat back at the base of the tree and examined the seed in his hand for a little while longer. He leaned back fully and closed his eyes.
Whis leaned against the tree as well and smirked at Shin. “Quite a first meeting,” he mused.
“Indeed…” He cracked one of his eyes open to look at Whis. “… He wasn’t actually going to seal me away in anything, was he?”
Whis motioned back and forth with his hand. “There was a chance.”
He opened both his eyes. “… Wow…”
“I hope you do not get discouraged, Lord Shin. I know that the past few weeks have been challenging.”
“Thank you, Whis.” Shin took a moment to watch the sky, then lowered his head and cleared his mind once more. He got the moment to rest as requested. After he allowed himself to be truly calm, he stood up from the tree and walked over to Beerus.
“I’m ready to go,” Shin said, peeking to the side. Beerus’s eyes were closed as he rested his head against his propped up hand. Shin stared for a little while. “… Beerus?” he asked again.
Beerus snorted awake, then grunted a little. “Whuh?” He blinked, looked around, then realized he wasn’t back at his own planet at all. “Oh.” He huffed, standing up completely. “I’m done waiting,” he said. “Whis!”
Shin decided to just give him that one. “I’ll see you there, then,” he said, waving the two off. Shortly afterwards, he vanished into thin air.
—
Shin reappeared on Beerus’s planet and took the extra time to check out what was there at all; he was too angry to notice anything earlier. There was maybe one other time he’d been here when his predecessor was the Supreme Kai, but it was so long ago. The environment wasn’t unlike the Land of the Kais, though it was certainly a little muted in color and the trees were sparse with their leaves. Instead of the many moons that surrounded his own world, he took note of different, multicolored planets dotting the sky. The wind was warm and subtle. It was nice.
Most of the landscape had patches of rocks or huge trees… Shin wondered how much Beerus liked his house to not just move in to a different tree… were they even positive his house would come back? Or maybe the tree was just that massive… Shin dismissed his thoughts as he went to the huge, open field in front of him.
“This is a nice spot,” he hummed to himself, carefully sending the seed into the dirt with telekinesis. There was a strange barrier around the seed itself he never dealt with before, but it was awfully familiar. Shin first did what he knew; he closed his hand except for his index and middle finger and motioned up to the sky—
His hand stopped before he could fully lift his arm, and he grunted as he tried his best to complete his swing. He planted his feet to the ground, tried again, strained, struggled—
“Huh?” he muttered under his breath. The seed took root, but it was having trouble sprouting and his abilities weren’t doing a whole lot to assist. It was like the seed inside heard his call, but couldn’t actually break through its shell. Shin tried one more time. He balled his hands low to the ground, then tugged against the air. His whole face turned red from how hard he strained himself, then he grunted, trying but failing to lift himself completely. He slipped against the grass and fell backwards with a thud. He groaned, sitting back up and rubbing the back of his head.
Beerus and Whis arrived just in time to see Shin disappear from the field. Beerus looked around, checking to make sure his home wasn’t magically placed elsewhere. “He hasn’t grown it yet?!” he snapped, stomping into the field.
“I wonder where Lord Shin went off to?” hummed Whis. “You saw him there, right?”
Beerus was tempted to give a list of any colorful words about their predicament, but he quickly forgot them when Shin reappeared again, this time carrying a tome about half his size. Beerus’s tail lifted up a little. “Hey! What’s the hold up?” he asked.
Shin dropped himself into the grass and lugged the book into his lap. “I’m looking into this barrier.” He flung the book open and searched through the pages for what he needed.
“You couldn’t break through it?!” shouted Beerus in disbelief.
Shin’s cheeks flushed a little as he tried to keep his focus on the book. “Well, I did try… I haven’t dealt with that kind of barrier before, so I’m seeing how I can break it.”
“Hrrrgh…” Beerus nearly bit his tongue. “Fine. Just don’t take too long.”
…
Three days passed without any actual progress. The beginning was miserable for Shin because Beerus loudly complained about his hunger and kept poking at Shin to hurry, but he fell asleep after an hour… and he’s been out for the count ever since. Shin was able to focus on applying what he read and began his process of trial and error. He made an attempt every few hours and failed every single time. Each try made him more tired and more frustrated— he reeled back, tried to refocus, and attempt the problem again. Regrowing the tree became less about assisting Beerus and more about proving he could assist.
Whis kept a close eye on both the gods, especially since Shin’s attempts were beginning to wear him down. He sipped some tea— alas, not as good as the one from the Kai’s world— and stood up when the last attempt sent Shin hurdling back into the grass.
“Maybe it is time to take a break, Lord Shin?” suggested Whis as he approached.
Shin panted, sitting back upright, then staggering up to his feet. “I don’t know why it’s not working… I’ve tried just about all I know to do.” He groaned tiredly and threaded his fingers through his hair. “I understand how to unlock the barrier, but it just… Agh!” He grimaced. “It didn’t seem so complex before…” He yawned, then sat himself back down.
“The barrier doesn’t look too difficult, at least not for a Supreme Kai to handle,” Whis mentioned.
He growled to himself. “I know! I… I should be able to do this!” He sighed. “I must be getting something wrong. I will… read through this guidebook again. Or… maybe I’m somehow learning about the wrong barrier?” Shin leaned over the book and tiredly flipped through some pages. “Maybe I should read through the entire thing right now, and there is a detail I am just not getting…”
Whis smiled as he watched Shin and waited. In just a few moments, Shin keeled over the book and finally fell asleep. With an airy sigh, Whis floated back off towards the lake. “What is an Angel to do?” he tutted to himself. Ah, who was he kidding? He was having the most fun he had in ages. Beerus and the previous Supreme Kai were quite the lazy, carefree duo, which was nice on its own, but it also meant that the meetings weren’t much to write home about. The previous Supreme Kai did excellent work for sure, but Beerus adopted a comfort that needed some time to be reworked. A brand new Supreme Kai unafraid to throw himself recklessly into the fray would certainly do that, at least a little. Whis looked forward to what the new dynamic would bring.
Still, poor thing. Whis wasn’t sure Shin slept at all ever since Majin Buu’s attack, and if he did, his slumber was likely interrupted by panic of more intruders. Trying to sprout a seed did him in, which was amusing in its own way. Even with all the excitement, though, Whis hoped the universe could stay peaceful for a while.
Another day passed and it was business as usual. Fully rested and ready to tackle the tree conundrum again, Shin planted his feet on the ground and tried to unlock the barrier on the seed once more. With intense focus, he balled his fists and tugged against the air. He strained but kept his cool, and slowly, slowly—
A small, purple stem with two leaves popped out of the ground. Shin’s eyes shot wide open. “Wha…” He laughed. “I… Haha! I got it to sprout!”
Whis curiously floated over and gave a nod. “The barrier’s still there, but seems like you’re starting to get it, Lord Shin.”
“Whew! That was still a lot of work,” Shin said, wiping his forehead. He refocused, took a deep breath, and attempted to do the same thing again. He was still met with incredible difficulty, but he felt relieved he could do it at all. Progress was made!
The fanfare rustled Beerus out of his rest. With a long yawn, he shambled up to his feet and scratched behind his ears. He turned around and expected a full tree there… but of course there wasn’t. Beerus scowled and made his way over to where the two of them were. “This is all you could do in a few hours?” Beerus grumbled. He flicked one of the leaves of the plant, so far unimpressed.
“It’s been four days, Lord Beerus,” Whis said.
“Four days?!”
Shin frowned. “I’ve been at this nonstop! I finally made a breakthrough, though.”
“I can’t keep waiting! Whis, you said only a Supreme Kai could grow this, right? Let’s ask another one.”
Shin glared daggers at Beerus. “Are you serious?”
Beerus crossed his arms. “Completely.”
“I’ve been working as much as I can, while you’ve just been sleeping this entire time!” snapped Shin. “And this is all to get your house back, which you don’t even need!”
“I need it, but I’d like to not die of old age by the time it grows fully!” Beerus yelled, throwing his arms up.
“You can’t die of old age!!”
“I’m sure you’ll prove that wrong!” Beerus yelled again.
Shin groaned in frustration. “I… I don’t know how my predecessor got along with you!” he exclaimed back. “What makes you so convinced that a Supreme Kai from a different universe would help?”
Beerus tilted his head into the air and gave a dismissive stare. “I’m not convinced, but at least I know they can grow a tree.”
“You know, it’s a lot more difficult than it looks. I’m sure if it was so easy, you’d do it instead!” growled Shin. He swung his arms in the air. “You can’t just wave your arms and have it work! It requires more finesse than—” Shin noticed Beerus’s jaw drop. “What?” He turned around.
The sprout from before skyrocketed into a tree, its wood crackling as it stretched and grew. It stopped as soon as Shin lowered his arms, but the tree dwarfed all three of them standing there.
Shin stared, wide-eyed. “Was that me?” he quietly asked.
Whis chuckled and politely clapped. “Splendid progress!”
“D… Do that more!” Beerus yelled.
Shin rubbed his chin in thought. Was part of the problem that he was thinking too hard before? Life and growth should be a more natural inclination of a God of Creation, after all… Maybe he had to be a little angry, too? He lifted his arms again, but nothing happened. His theory was starting to hold some weight.
“Beerus, try to make me angry again,” Shin said.
Beerus snorted. “I don’t need to try. I just have to list off everything that you do that pisses me off!” he exclaimed. “You’re weak, way too weirdly positive, and you don’t know how to stay in your lane! Also, you should be disgusted that it took you so long to grow a tree! Your predecessor would be ashamed!”
Shin made a mix of emotions on his face, before finally dropping his head below his shoulders. “I’m ashamed myself,” he said, flailing his hands in dismissal. “I knew I had a lot to learn, but this all is too much… I think I’m realizing this task was my punishment, too…”
The tree behind them started to wilt, small branches snapping off and falling to the ground. Whis nudged Beerus, amused. “I believe you’re depressing Lord Shin,” he said.
Beerus began to sweat. “Y-you idiot! You’re giving the tree your wimpy thoughts!”
“Huh?” Shin looked again. “Ahh! No!” He clasped his head. “I need to refocus…”
Beerus tapped his feet on the ground as he thought. “I, uh… I sleep all the time. Or whatever.”
“That doesn’t make me angry, it just irritates me,” Shin said. “Maybe I’m thinking of this wrong… I can’t feed the tree anything negative, but I can’t grow it very well when I try the opposite… And I also shouldn’t overthink things… Aaahh!” He groaned, planting his head into his hands. “What was I doing when we were arguing…?”
“You were just saying that making a tree wasn’t easy,” Beerus said with a slightly sarcastic tone.
“Th… that’s right! You were underestimating me!” Shin exclaimed, pointing aggressively to Beerus. “I’m not claiming to be a powerful Supreme Kai. I know I’m not. But your lack of faith in me hurts!”
“Then prove me wrong, you runt!” Beerus shouted.
Shin lifted his arms again, this time with more intention. The tree started growing again, its branches repaired as it went higher up towards the sky. Though its growth was slower at first, something finally clicked for Shin. He lowered his body closer to the ground, then lifted himself up with effort, rocketing the tree’s growth as he stood and reached for the sky. Two branches became twenty, which became a hundred. Beerus accidentally let out a laugh, elated that getting his castle back was finally a possibility. Shin laughed too. He finally got it.
In just a few minutes, the huge tree that housed Beerus’s castle was back in its full glory. It towered appropriately over everything else on the planet, casting a comfortable shadow over part of the lake in front of it. There was one final part to the barrier… Shin focused on it. His eyes briefly flashed blue. The buildings that stuck out of the tree reappeared and its entrance had finally revealed itself. Beerus’s castle was back to normal.
“I… I think we did it!” Shin panted. “I-it’s back!”
“Yes!!!” Beerus cheered, pouncing forward with his tail lifted in the air. The both of them laughed at the same time with a mix of relief and excitement, dancing in a circle around each other. They stopped only when Whis approached, as if Beerus realized he was being watched. Shin happily collapsed back to the ground and stared up at the result of his work. Beerus acted as if he hadn’t shown any emotion before, huffing and walking into his castle at last.
“Are you able to unlock that kind of barrier again, Lord Shin?” Whis curiously asked.
“Y-yeah! I think so.” Shin sat upright and grinned at Whis. “Do… you think I could ask the Grand Priest to make some other trees disappear?”
Whis chuckled. “How about I enchant some other seeds myself to give you a head start? I’m sure you’ll be able to work through spells with much less effort in time.”
“That would help me a lot, Whis! Thank you.”
“No problem at all. Oh, Lord Beerus wouldn’t mind letting you inside the castle to see what you restored for him. Would you like to have something to eat?” Whis smiled as he walked to the castle entrance, gesturing Shin to follow along. He eagerly joined, and the two went inside together. Beerus was rummaging through the food in his pantry when the other two met up with him. Whis’s eyes sparkled at all the options. He wanted to hold another feast!
Beerus’s dining table was lined with a lot of the same foods that they ate back on the Land of the Kais, though Shin didn’t seem to notice or care— he was just happy to be there at all. This time, everyone was in much higher spirits. They got to celebrate something that wasn’t in the shadow of anyone’s deaths.
Shin knew that Beerus’s motivation to help was a bit more selfish in nature, but there was also a significant part of Beerus that actually cared. After all, Shin’s success was also Beerus’s. Neither of them bickered with one another through the feast, and eventually, Shin returned home without any lingering concerns.
The Land of the Kais was still empty, but Shin didn’t feel the burden of loneliness anymore.